Cable or strand handling and working mechanism



Feb, 10, 1925. $26,071

F. S. KOCHENDORFER ET AL CABLE OR STRAND HANDLING AND WORKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 7, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet yl Feb. 10, 1925. 1,526,071

4 FA. S. KOCHENDORFER ET AL CABLE OR STRAND HANDLING 'AND WORKING MECHANISM Filed Dec'. '7. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hyg Fredefz'c/fjchendogfer li/mer JBO@ Feb. 10, 1925.

F. s. KocHl-:NDORFER ET AL CABLE 0R STRAND HANDLING AND WORKING MECHANSM 4 sheets-sheet s Filed Deo. '7, 1921 '0 Q .N jizz/922mm Hederfc/fc/endmfer www@ Feb. l0, 1925.

F. S. KOCHENDORFER ETA AL CABLE OR STRAND HANDLING AND WORKING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed DeC. '7, 1921 jim-221 or ffffocleii offer HeZmerJBoe Patented Fel. 1o, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREERIC S. KOCHENDORFER, OF RIVE-RFOREST, AND'HELMER J'. BOE, OIF CHICAGO, i ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

CABVICEZ 0R STRAND HANDLING AND WORKING MECHANISM.

Application led December 7, 1921. Serial No. 520,712.

To allwhomz'tmay concern.' l

Be it known that we, FREDERIC S. KOCH- ENDORFER and HELMER J. Bon, citizens of the y United Sta-tes, residing at River Forest, in theA county. of Cook and State of Illinois, and Chicago, in the.county of Cookfand State of Illinois, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvement'sfin Gable or Strand Handling and Working Mechanism, of whichthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

4This invention relates to a method of,

and a mechanism for working andhandling strands andv cables,v and .the object` vof the invention in general is to provide "a method of, and a mechanismfor conveniently and speedily working and handling strands or cables. v v

In accordance with one of the featuresl of this invention, provision isv made for the economical handling of supply' and take-up reels whereby the same reel may .'be used twice in the same mechanism'without change from one spindle to anotheronce as a supply reel andv once `Vasa take-up reel. This may be accomplished by means of mechanism adapted to be operated to permit either -spindle to be driven or to be idle, `depending Whether'I the reel upon 1t is a. supply reel or take-up reel. v

Another feature of this invention relates to the details ofconstruction and combination of parts kfor controllingor actuating a driving and braking means for controlling the spindles whereby these spindles may be used for alternate purposes.

Another feature of this invention' relates to reversing the` functions of the reels vwhile maintaining unchanged thelr directlonof rotation., x v f Still anotherfeature vofthe inventionre;

lates to reversing the functions. of tle'reels vmined point. y

In the drawings: p Fig. 1- is a side elevation -of a. machine embodying the features.ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is anenlarged' fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line/2 2 of Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view with parts removed;

Fig. 4' is an enlarged fragmentary :secrtional vieiv'of the up r right-hand corner of thepaint bath as vlewed in Fig. 1, show-v ing the surplus paint removing means par- I' tially in section mounted'therein;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan sectional view l taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. v 6 is .a fragmentary plan lsectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a plan section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1. f l

-As shown in .the drawings, the machine is preferably built with two units 10 and 11 positioned back l'to back with a paint container and a main driving means common to both units and in the following description it will suiice if the construction and operation of one unit is described. A base or supporting member common to both units vis indicated at l5, and suitably carried thereon and positioned midway between the units 10 and lland at one end lof' the machine is a driving motor 16. Positionedat the oppositeend of the machine and carried upon the base member 15 ,is a paint container 17. A main driving `shaft 18 extends from the moto-r 16 to the container 17 where it drives a vertically disposed shaftv 19 'by suitable bevel gearing located ina. gear box 20. The shaft 19 extends towardv the bottom of the container 17 and carries astirring and mixing member 24 equipped with aplurality of agitator blades E25-25. The container 17 has a vertical 'partition or wall 26 with its vlower end positioned just above'theblades A'2o-25 to divide the container 17 into two sections, one for each unit of the machine. Positioned `upon tlieftop of the container 17 andfnear theend of the machine is a rotary fpump127 connected to the shaft 18-thr0ugh a saitab1ec1utch28. the Operating handle thereof y.being indicated at 29. The clutch v28.ris connected tothe-'main shaft 18 by suit- .'ableogearing locatedin the gearbox' 20. The

purpose of .the pump '27 is to facilitate the n fiilling'of the container 17 with paintk from afbarrel or other supply source, thepaint beingdrawn therefrom by a hose securedto a connection 32 on the '.p'ump127 Secured tothemain driving shaft 18 near the motor 16is abevel pinion 33` which meshes with a bevel gear 34; secured to a `vertically disposed slaft 35. l(See Figs. 1 and 3.)

f To the lower end of theshaft is scoured -albevelpinion 36 meshing withl a bevelgear 37 secured on a horizontal shaft 38 supported in bearings 39', 39. The shafts 18 and 35 are supported in suitable bearings which have not been illustrated in the drawings. The shaft 38 extends toward each side of the machine and forms the driving connection for each unit with the main shaft 18. is a gear 40, one for dri/ving each unit, which meshes with gears 41 and 42 at each side thereof and secured to shafts or reel spindles 43 and 44 in horizontal alinement with theshaft 38. Keyed to but slidable upon each ofthe spindles 43 and 44 are shiftable sections 45 and 46 which form the driven parts of suitable friction clutches 47 and 48, the driving sections 49 and 50 thereof being keyed to the gears 41 and 42 respectively. The inside ends of the Ireel spindles 43 and44 are supported 1n bearings 51 and toward their outside ends 1n bearings 52. APositioned below the clutches 47 and 48 is a bar 53 slidable at one end upon a bracket 54 secured to the bearing 52 and at its other end upon a bracket 55 secured to the container 17. The bar 53 is guided in its movement upon the brackets 54 and 55 by suitable guideways formed therein. Formed in the bar- 53 are cam slots 56 and 57 and passing therethrough .are pins 58 and 59 which are secured at ytheir upper ends to yoke members 460 and 61 adapted to move the shiftable sections 45fand '46 of the clutches 47 and 48 iria well-known manner to drive .the spindles 43 and 44. The pins 58 and l59 are equipped with suitable anti-friction rollers which engage in the cam slots 56 and 57 and at their lower ends are forked shaped, as indicated at 63. Suitable openings. 65 are/formed* in the brackets 54 and 55 for the movement of the-fork shaped ends 63 of the pins 58 and 59. Keyed to the spindles 43 and 44 are lbrakes 66 and 67 `comprising a brake pulley 70 equipped with astu'd 71 for locking reels 72 tothe spindles 43 and 44. A brake band x 73 lined with a suitable lining and split at 74 passes around the periphery of the brake pulley 70 'and is held in position by suitable lianges .formed thereon. (See Figs. 2 and As shown in Fig. 3, the brake bandv Ais adapted to be brought into anormal frictional engagement with the brake pulleyv 70 by turning an adjusting bolt 77 which passes through suitable openings in radial extending arms 78,-of the angle pieces 79 secured to the peripheral surface of the brake band and at the ends thereof. A compression spring 80 surro'ands the bolt 77 between thek arms 78 of the angle pieces 79 and Vtends to loosen the brake band on the brake pulley. By turning the bolt 77 on its nut in a right hand direction it will be readily seen that the ends of the friction band will be drawn f' closer together, thereby'tightening the band Secured to4 each end of the shaft 38' forked ends 63of` the pins 58 and 59,;as

indicated at 88 and attheir other ends to the forked end of a draw pin 91 which is suitably connected to a stop pin 92 guided in a bracket 93 secured to the bearings 52. The connection ybetween the drawpin and the stop pin 92 is such that lupon the lower end of the brake lever moving in a counterclock-wise direction the'stofp pin 92 will be moved downward and. against the action of a compression spring 94.- positioned between the draw pin 91 and thestop pin 92 which normally tends to move the stop pin upward and into the pathof the projectingr arms of the angle pieces 79'and 81.--

The bar53 has threev positions to which it is moved in the operation ofthe machine and is actuated by an operating arm` 97 suitably connected to the bar53 by a lever f 98 pivotally securedto an eye99 fastened to one end. of thebar 53. (See Fig.' 3.) The arm 97 is carried upon ay bracket 101 secured to the container 17 and the position thereof is controlled by a` quadrant 102 provided with three notches 103,104, and 105, a notch for each position of the bar 53 and a retaining pawl 106 (see Fig. 3) controlled in the usual manner. Y

Meansv for evenly distributing cable 109 uponthe take-up reel 72 of'both units isinf dicated at 110 and consists of a reciprocable bar 111 equipped atv eachend with a. pair of fingers 112 adapted to hold the cable while it is movedback and forth and wound upon the reels by a pinion secured to a shaft 113 meshing with a' rack 114 secured to the bar 111.v The shaft'113 is rotated first in one direction and thenthe other .bysuitable mechanism (not shown) p connected to` the main driving'shaft 18. *A plurality of pulleys 115.-115 suitably `supported. act as guides for the cable'in4 itsxtravel 'from the y supply reel 72 intov thefpaint container 17 where it receives a coating of l"paint and then to the take-up reel 7 2. yAfter passing around -the guide pulley115locatedfat'fthe bottom of the paint container `17thefcable passes through an excess paint removingdevice which is mounted V'atfjthegqlpper',right-hand v corner of the container fan y' just below the Acover 121 thereof. 'llhef'device 120 iscon-v nected' with the compressedkv air line 12.2l con-I trolled by the valve 123. Securedltothe etmdevice 120 consists of two', sections 127 andy'126 hinged at 130 and held closed by .a thumb nut and bolt'131. Section 127 is fitted withv a stud .132 which passes 'through the bracket 124 and an opening inthe container 17- and is securedtothe bracket ,124 on the' outside of the container-by a thumbnut i133.` The air line 122 connects with a passage 134ev in the' bracket 124 whichy in turn connects 1 with a passage 138 in thesection 127. .The

passage 138 connects with .the passage 139.

inthe section 126 of the device 120. Suitable gaskets 140 are fitted between the sec-.Y

tions 126 and 12,7 and the bracket 124 and the section 127 to prevent any-leakage of air where the air passages connect. Formed in "the sections 126 and 127 at right angles to the passagesy 138 and 139 and connecting therewith are passages 141 and142. lFormed in the contacting 'surfaces of 'the sections 126 and 127 for the greater -portion of their' length are depressions 143 and 144 which together form a passage 145 through the device 120 for the cable 109. In the drawings iat switchboard cable has been shown and the passage 145 formed by the depressions 143 and 144 is of the same cross-section only enlarged so 'that a suitable space is allowed between the surface of the cable and the wall of the passage 145.. If cable circular in cross section is to be operatedupon, the passage 145 will be circular to correspond. Connecting the passage 145 formed 'by the depressions 143 and 144 with the passages 141 and 142 are a plurality of comparatively fine passages 146 formed at such an angle that all y"are directed Aat thepassing cable (see Fig. 5). As shown in Fig. 6, the passages 146 are also formed at a suitable angle in a downward direction which acts o erated upon. t e surplus paint removing device 120 and vwhich the cable snugly fits.

to wipe the excess painted the cable which is` moving in the opposite direction.` Thepassages 146 will in all cases* be formed at an angle which best suits the cable being Positioned at ,the top kof suitably secured in an opening formed in the sections 126 and 127 is a polisher 148 within 145 formed by the depressions 143 and 144 is of such a size that it will take careof a pluralit of cables of the same cross sectional s ape; the only change required in i the device 120 when another size-cable is to be operated upon is tochangethe polisher for one that fits the cable. Positioned above the cover 121 of the container 171is an auxiliary surpluspaint remover, 150 comrisilng ur ap` aclamping device adapted to clamp 151 or any suitable material around the cable to wipe it a second time before being wound onl the take-up (reel.

previously n constantly driving `thedrivingv sectlons 49 The passage n 'operation `of the-'machine is as--foly.

lows:

`The starting ofthe motor causes they main driving shaft' 18'fto transmit motion f to theshaft 35 and theshaft `35 in turn causes? the shaft 38 *to transmit power to e bothunits 10 and 11 of the machine throu h described gearing, there y and'5'0 of ythe lfrictionflutches 47 and 48. Suitable gearing and' mechanism as previously described interposed \between the shafts 18 and 113 constantly operates the cable distributors 110 for both units 10 and 11. The mixing and-stirring member 24 is bein 'constantly driven from the shaft 18 as escribed before, andthe pump 27 maybe set inaction when needed by operating the clutch 28 throughthe. handle 29. As shown in the drawings, the operating arm 97 is .locked at the notch 103 inthe quadrant 102 and consequently the bar 53' has been moved to the ri ht. During this movement the cam slot 5 and the pin 59 have cooperated to move the driven part 46 ofthe clutch 48intoengagement with the drivingpait 50 thereof, thereby vcausing the reel ispindlel 44 .to be. driven.` At substantially `the same moment. that the pin 59- is moved to enga-gek the clutch 48 the stop pin 92 is moveddownward to clear the bottom end of the radial arms of anyangle piece-81 or of the angle piece 79,*dep`ending upon lthe position of the brake pulley 70,

thereby allowing the spring to release thel brake bands 73y from the brake pulley 70.

As shownin the drawings, the cam slots 56 and 57 are so, formed in the'bar 53 with respent to eachother that whenthe cam slot 57 is mcving'fvthefpin 59 to `cause the en-vv gagement of the clutch' 48 and releasing the brake associated-therewith, tli'ecam slot 56 is moving the pin 581to`cause the disengagement of the-.clutch 47 and operating ythe .brakeassociated therewithv and vicef versa., With the spindle ,44: actingas the take-up spindle and driving the take-up reel 72v the spindle 43 ants as asuppo'rt for the supply reel'72 and the stop pin-9251s sociated; therewith causes the brake operated to keep .the su ply reel. from Over-''.

runni or sup lying -t ecable faster than paintcontainer 17, the operating arm 97 is moved up and locked at the notch'104, which movement, due to the formation of lthe cam slots/56 and-57 in the bar 53 and their relation-to each other, disen ages the clutch 48 and vapplies the brake to t eta-ke-up spindle'l 44 through the movementof the pin 59 without disturbing --the condition of-.the spindle 43. At this time both spindles are idle and their respective brakes applied. The.

fit is ta en up y the take-upk reel. When` l the take-up reel-72 has drawn all the cable vfrom the supplyfreel 72 and through .the

filled up reel 72 is removed from the spindle 44 and a reel of un ainted cable is positioned thereon a-nd loc edv thereto by the stud 7l on the brake pulley 70 entering a suitable opening in the reel. To prevent the reel from 4moving in a horizontal directionoi the spindle during the operation of the machine, the spindles are 'each provided.

' positioning, a reel ofunpainted cable upon eitherispindle facilitates the locking-of the reel to the brake pulley due to the locking I ",stud`71 'being held steady while the operl gc:

.=- tioning and locki `ator is: inserting it into la, suitable opening provided therefor in the reel. After osithe reel of unpaanted A cable uponthe spin le 44 the free end of the cable is led therefrom and guided to and .through the container 17 and secured to the take-up reel 72 upon the spindle 43, which reel hasl just been emptied. The guide pulley 115 located between the spindles 43 and. i4-is only used'when the spindle 44 is being used as a supplyI spindle asjust den scribed. The machine 1s now set 1n motion moving the operating arm 97 upward and l'locking itat the notch 105, which `move,

ment moves the bar 53 to the left, thereby releasing the brake associated with the spindle 43 and engaging the clutch 47 to drive the spindle 43, the brake associated with the spindle 44 being left applied. The movement of 'the bar 53 to the left reverses the result of moving it to the right, as described in the beginning of this description of operation. By this arrangement of using alternately either of the spindles 43 and 44 for supply or take-up purposes the. efliciency of the machine is increased, since the change of reels is reduced to one change per length of cable painted.

As the cable is drawn from the container 17 blasts of air directed at the surface of the cable by .the surplus paint removing device `12() functions to -wipe from the cable the surplus aint adhering thereto.

4What is c aimed is:

1. In a machine for working and handling strands, supply and take-up reels for' the strand, spindles adapted to serve either as supply or take-up reel spindles, means for causing the strand to move past a predetermined point in the same direction while using either reel as a take-up, and mechanism associated with said spindles for driving and controlling them.

2. In a machine for working and handling strands, 1 supply and take-up reels for the strand, spindles adapted to act alternately as supply or take-up reel spindles, means for causing the strand to move past apredetermined point in the same direction while Vusing elther reel as a take-up, and mechanism associated with said s indles'for alternately driving-.and controlllng them.

, 3. In a machine for working and handling strands, supply and take-up reels for the strand, spindles adapted to serve eithercong -stantly or alternately as supply or take-up reel spindles, means for causing the strand to move past a predetermined point in the same direction while using either reel as a take-up, and mechanism associated with said i spindles for driving and controlling them.

4. In a machine for working and handling strands, supply and take-up reels `for the v strand, spindles adapted to act alternately as supply or take-up reel spindles, means for causing thestrand to move past apredetermined point in the same direction whilev using either reel as a take-up, mechanism as- Sociated with said spindles for alternately driving and applying a braking force thereto, and actuating means for said mechanism.

5. In a machine for working and handling strands, supply and take-up reels for the strand,rspindles adapted tol serve either 'as supply or take-up reel spindles, mechanism i associated with ,said spindles adapted to drive one or the other of said spindles or to disengage the drive from both spindles and applyV a braking@ force thereto, means for causing the-'strand to move past a predetermined point innthe same direction while using either reel-as a take-up, and actuating means for .said mechanism.

6, In almachinefor working and handling strands, supply and take-.up reels for the strand, spindles Ifor said reels, a clutch mechanismV connected with each of said spindles, driving means connected wth the `driving member of each ofsaid clutches, andmeans for causing the strand to movepast' a predetermined point in the same direction While using either reel as atake-up, and an ac-v tuator associated with the driven membersj of said Aclutches adapted vupon operation to* cause the disengagement of one of said clutches and simultaneouslythe engagement, of the other whereby said spindles may be'l *y lease of the other braking means whereby said spindles may be used alternatelymfor supply and take-up purposes, and means for causing the strand to move past a predetermined `point in the same direction While using either reel as a takefup.

8. In a machine for Working and handling strands, supply` and take-up reels for the strand, spindles for said reels, means for causing the strand to move past a predetermined point in the same direction While using either reel as a take-up, a clutch mechanism connected with each of said spindles, driving means connected with each of said clutches, braking means associated with each of said'spindles, and an actuator adapted in two positions to cause the engagement or disengagement of either clutch and simultaneously the application or releasing of either braking means and in another position thereof to cause the disengagement of both clutches and simultaneously the ap- Idaication of the braking means to both spin- 9. In a machine for handling strands, a plurality of means for mounting supply and take-up reels interchangeably, means to -aotuate same, and means for guiding the strand past a predetermined point in rthe same direction from either of said plurality of mounting means. v

10. In a machine for handling strands, processing means requiring uni-directional motion of the strand therethrough, a plurality of means for mounting supply and takeup reels interchangeably, means to actuate same, and means for guiding the strand past a predetermined point in the same direction from either of said plurality of mounting means.

11. In a machine for handling strands, processing means requiring uni-directional motion of the strand therethrough, spindles for mounting reels for supply and take-up interchangeably, means to actuate same., andl means for causing said strand to pass through said processing means in the same direction from either spindle.

12. In ya'machine for handling strands,

maintain direction of motion of the strand as to a predetermined point While using either reel as a take-up and also while maintaining the direction of rota-tion of said reel.

14. In a machine for handling strands, a 'plurality of spindles, means to rotate said spindles, and a plurality of rotatable idlers respectively associated with said spindles for rendering the spindles interchangeably supply and take-up spindleswhile maintaining unchanged the direction of rotation of said spindles and also the direction of motion of the strand as to a predetermined point.

15. In a machine for handling strands,

supply and take-up reels, means for actuating said reels, and a pluralit of rotatable idlers, selective use of said id ers causing areversal of function of the reels while maintainin unchanged the direction of rotation of said reels and also the direction of motion of the strand as Vto a predetermined point. l

16. A method of feeding a strand onto and 0E of two spools rotating in a predetermined direction, consisting in alternately feeding .the strand onto the peripheral surface of each spool at a point diametrically' opposedto that at which the strand is fed oii' of said spool, and guiding the strand in v the same direction past a predetermined point When feeding from either spool.

In Witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe our names this 26th day of November A. D.,Y

FREDERIC S. KOOHENDORFER. HELMER J.BOE. 

